Beijing R1 previews and predictions: Thiem vs. Zverev, Dimitrov vs. Johnson

(4) Dominic Thiem vs. Alexander Zverev

Thiem and Zverev will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and for the fourth time this year when they clash in round one of the China Open on Tuesday. All three of their previous encounters–all on clay–have gone Thiem’s way; he prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the Munich semis, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 in the Nice final, and 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the French Open third round.

The good news for Zverev is that all three of those meetings came during a stretch of the season when Thiem was absolutely on fire. Since reaching the Roland Garros semis, however, the 10th-ranked Austrian has wilted amidst a heavy schedule. Only eight of his 56 match wins have come since Wimbledon, although he at least managed to finish runner-up to Lucas Pouille in Metz. Zverev also cooled off at the end of the summer, but from just about out of nowhere his fall swing got off to the hottest of starts. The 24th-ranked German captured the fist ATP title of his career in St. Petersburg, upsetting U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the final. With momentum in hand, Zverev should be able to finally get over the hump against his good friend.

Pick: Zverev in 3

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Grigor Dimitrov vs. Steve Johnson

Dimitrov vs. Johnson has also been one of the emerging rivalries on the tour in recent times. All four of their previous contests have come since the start of Wimbledon last summer and the head-to-head series is all tied up at two wins apiece. They have faced each other twice in the last three months, with Johnson getting the job done 6-7(6), 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2 before Dimitrov seized the upper hand via a 7-6(8), 6-2 scoreline at the Cincinnati Masters.

Although Johnson is a mediocre 28-23 for the season, he has been in stellar form throughout the second half. The 23rd-ranked American captured his first career ATP title in Nottingham and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, the semifinals in Washington, D.C., and the quarters of the Rio Olympics and the Cincinnati Masters. Dimitrov has heated up nicely following a spring slump, with a quarterfinal in Toronto, a semifinal in Cincinnati, a fourth-round finish at the U.S. Open, and another semifinal last week in Chengdu. Johnson has not played since losing in New York to Juan Martin Del Potro during second-round action, whereas Dimitrov is already accustomed to the Asian-swing conditions.

Pick: Dimitrov in 3

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